CDR PREAMBLE: Mint Berlin

September 29th sees CDR return to Prince Charles with another very special programme. We’re really happy to have the awesome Mint Berlin crew co-hosting and presenting music from their network. Mint is a platform for female DJs and producers working in electronic music, promoting visibility and providing female artists with opportunities to showcase their talent. Co-founder and local house legend Ena Lind tells us what we can expect from the evening.

CDR: Mint has been running since 2013. How do you feel the community has developed, and what’s next for Mint?

I feel like there’s a lot more self esteem among women out there today then even just 3 years ago, which I think is an important part in improving the work environment for women producers and DJs. You cannot control how people treat you but you can control your own attitude and this will change a lot. I can see this in our workshops but also in the way people approach us now, send us their promos, etc.

We are working on several projects, like our workshop series Mint Campus, or network dinners, short documentaries, club nights etc. We are talking about many projects that we see for the future just because they make sense for a network like Mint, like a festival, a label or mentoring programs. But I am a fan of taking things slow and focusing on quality instead of quantity. We are definitely working on expanding our network now; we are planning a tour for summer 2017.

CDR: When and where did you first hear about or attend CDR? What do you recall?

The first time a heard about it was for the Berlin relaunch only half a year ago. I couldn’t make it there at the time but I went there the time after and didn’t know what to expect.. It was the night of the Through My Speakers collective showcase. I loved the atmosphere. It reminded me a bit of being in the studio with other people. A work atmosphere but very relaxed.

CDR: What can CDR audiences expect from the Mint showcase at CDR?

We are going to play 1,5 hours of our network’s artists’ unreleased work, some of it already signed or mastered, some of it rather raw.

CDR: Is there a track or artist from the Mint network that you would particularly like to highlight?

I am excited about new work from one of my favourite producers Perel, also La Fraicheur, and from a collective of producers that developed from our Mint Campus workshops, called minutektiv. Of course I will play something from my new EP which will come out this Friday. We will have some of Daniela La Luz’ unreleased music which I am very much looking forward to; I could go on and on and on…

CDR: What’s been your track of 2016? Who/What has been on heavy rotation on your audio player of late?

I am a big fan of Lady Blacktronika right now. She joined Mint just a few months ago, and I am playing her stuff all the time atm. I will definitely include some of that in the showcase on the 29th.

CDR: Finally, have you any advice or words of warning for producers/musicians developing musical works in progress to play at CDR?

Remember why you are at CDR – is it because you want to present your music or do you actually want to use the opportunity to identify what you are not happy with in your track to work on it more after. For most people who are not djs or don’t have access to a club and its sound system any time they need to, it is so unique to have this chance. So it is probably a good idea to make notes, maybe even make different mix-downs in different parts of the track so you can hear a difference. Only compare yourself to others to a certain degree.